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Meet the Cast

Learn More About the Hutterites of King Colony

Published May 7, 2012

CLAUDIA HOFER

It's a new generation on King Colony and nobody knows this better than 19-year-old Claudia—King Colony's rebel party girl. When she's not helping her mom, Bertha, in the kitchen, Claudia can be found fishing or hunting with the guys, putting on makeup, jamming out to pop music, or re-imagining Hutterite fashion. Check her status on Facebook and you'll read how much she hates gossip but definitely likes to get into "just the right amount" of trouble with her twin brother Clinton and younger brother Carver.

TOBY HOFER

Toby has been the beef cow manager of King Colony for six years, responsible for herding more than 300 heads of cattle, checking the cows for pregnancy, and delivering the baby calves in frigid winter temperatures. It's an important gig because every year the cows bring in about a quarter of the financial earnings of the colony. Around harvest time, you'll find Toby hauling hay, fixing fences, helping brothers Marvin and Sam, or chopping off heads at the duck barn—a job he's had for almost 12 years.

BERTHA HOFER

As Head Cook and supervisor of King Colony's kitchen, Bertha would be the first to tell you that it's not easy preparing all the meals for nearly 60 people, six days a week. But no matter how difficult the task, Bertha always (as a rule) starts and ends her day with a smile. Nothing brings more joy to her life than spending time with her teenagers, Claudia, Carver, and Clinton, but the pain of losing her husband to suicide six years ago is a constant test of her faith.

WESLEY HOFER

As the Renaissance man of King Colony, Wesley can pretty much do it all. He somehow found time between farming duties to earn a college degree online in business administration and law with just a 12kbps Internet connection. You'll find him passing the time in the tractor listening to political talk radio or programming a new GPS software in the seeder to help save money and time for the colony. He's also a certified public water operator, part-time school bus driver, and volunteer firefighter.

CARVER HOFER

Carver has had a difficult six years since he lost his father to suicide. Growing up without a dad is hard for any young man, but Carver feels fortunate to have the support of his two siblings who encourage him to stay strong through bouts of anger. After high school, Carver wants to start a life on the outside, but for the time being, he's content tending to the livestock and being a handyman around the house for his mom, Bertha.

ANTHONY HOFER

Anthony, Wesley's brother and Carver's best friend, is one of the most athletic teenagers on the colony. He loves basketball and football and earned the nickname "Sparkplug" for being really fast on the field. A loyal Patriots fan to the core, "Tony 6" (his jersey number) dreams of going to college with a football scholarship and getting drafted to the NFL to play professionally, but knows it would be difficult to leave life on the colony.

The show recently aired by us and my husband and I started to watch. It amazes me that there is still so much information out there that we still know nothing about! Never even heard of the Hutterites! We were astounded and we sincerely are in gratitude to NG for bringing new world, new life, new possibilities into our homes. We thoroughly enjoyed the show. So when I searched the web, to learn more about the Hutterites, it is with sad trepidation I discover that there are no more shows! My husband actually commented that the Hutterites have it right....we all need to get back down to the basics, family, God, society, community! The younger Hutterites want to break out! The older "worldly" English want to break in! Yes, there are certain aspects that I do agree with pertaining to the female Hutterites complaints and I am sure, over time, the Elders will buckle to accommodate the ever-changing colony. And, personally for me, the Hutterites are more genuine in their representation of their faith and serving of God than some of the Mormons and Amish have been portrayed! I even came across the Hutterites own website. Awesome. We are honoured to have this priveledge to peak into their lives and it will be fantastic if NG can re-look into doing a follow-up show or go full out and do another season of The Hutterites.

I'm in England and have just watched this. I've just watched episode 1- 7, in two days. I absolutely love the Hofers. I'm also disappointed that the Elders think they've been portrayed in a bad light, because reading these comments and from my own observations, all I can say is that I greatly admire the whole Colony. They young ones and their quest to be a bit more modern, but not losing their faith, the older members for trying to hold on to the traditions that have been passed down. I'd never heard of The Hutterites before yesterday, but now I've seen these programmes I admire them very much. Claudia is an inspiration. I hope she gets to push bounderies a little. The only thing I can see about the Elders objecting, is their fear that colony life could come to an end if people want to embrace the modern world, but as this Colony already embraces most of the modern world, they have still managed to hold on to their values and belief in their own community. The Elders are wrong, The colony will survive, and thank you National Geographic, to Bertha, Claudia, Clinton, Carver, Wesley, Toby and Marvin and Anne Marie for sharing with us and for showing me there are some beautiful people in this world.

I pray this show comes back on. it's upsetting to read they aren't. What is wrong with opening the eyes to all of us at the ways others live. I would record this show and set with my grandson to check it out. Please bring back the number 1 show on TV for everyone in the family. PLEASE

I greatly enjoy this show, and I, too agree that one can 'smell' what has been contrived. Unfortunately, a pure concept (exploring the richness and uniqueness of the colony) has turned into a rural example of John and Kate plus Eight! Claudia, Wesley and Bertha are so refreshing in their purity, and their almost 'closeted' search for stuff in the outside world, while still honoring the traditions. God Bless all!

National Geographic could have dressed the Hutterites in mini skirts and high heels, and their goodness and kindness would still have shone through. Most of us could see the situations that were set up, but we were still interested in the behind-the-scenes things too. .The only change I would make to their way of life is to give the kids a choice about how far they take their education. Surely it would be beneficial to the community to have university graduates running the farm and keeping the books. But there needs to be room for the kids who are not academic and who simply want to run the cattle or the kitchen. What a lovely way of life.

I am SO, SO disappointed to learn that there won't be a 2nd season ~ I just LOVE the Hofer family and the whole effort to bring their history and traditions alive. I looked forward to watching each episode and always felt motivated afterward. I wish there was some way National Geographic could apologize to the elders and all of those who were hurt regarding the way Hutterites were represented. The Hofer's have taught me so much and I'm sad to see them go.